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Start an approval from a Power Apps button

Learn how to use Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button with practical Power Automate guidance, implementation steps, common mistakes, troubleshooting, and related BuilderVault patterns.

Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps buttonhigh intentAdvanced

What this pattern solves

Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button is a practical BuilderVault pattern for makers and developers who need a repeatable way to handle start an approval from a power apps button inside a real Microsoft business app. The goal is to move past trial-and-error and give the builder a clear structure they can adapt to their own screens, flows, lists, tables, or environments.

Use this page when you are deciding how the pattern should work, what supporting data or permissions are needed, and what should happen when the happy path fails. The notes below focus on implementation fit, common mistakes, troubleshooting, and internal links to adjacent patterns so the build stays consistent.

Search intent

Help a Power Platform builder understand when to use Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button, how to implement it, and what mistakes to avoid before using it in a production business app.

Problem

Approval flows need a reliable item ID and should start only after users intentionally submit a valid request.

What the finished pattern should include

  • The flow has a clear trigger, scoped actions, tracked outcomes, and an exception path.
  • Notifications or approvals tell users what happened and what action is required.
  • Support owners can review failed runs without reverse-engineering the workflow.

Solution

Formula / code
Set(savedRequest, Patch(Requests, selectedRequest, { RequestStatus: { Value: "Submitted" } }));
StartApprovalFlow.Run(savedRequest.ID);

Implementation checklist

  • Confirm the Power Automate scenario and the business user this pattern supports.
  • Identify the data source, owner, security model, and exception path before building.
  • Build the smallest reusable version first, then add optional branches or polish.
  • Test with realistic data, permissions, edge cases, and handoff expectations.
  • Link this pattern to its collection, topic hub, and related implementation patterns.

Step-by-step instructions

  • Patch and validate the SharePoint item first.
  • Store the saved item result.
  • Call the flow with the saved item ID.
  • Have the flow get the item by ID before starting approval.

When to use

  • Submit for approval buttons
  • PMO gate approvals
  • Exception request workflows

When not to use

  • Simple auto-notifications
  • Processes that should start from every list item creation

Common mistakes

  • Calling the flow before the item save completes.
  • Passing title instead of item ID.
  • Starting approval without locking the request status.

Troubleshooting

  • If the flow cannot find the item, log the ID passed from Power Apps and compare it to SharePoint.

FAQ

When should I use Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button?

Use Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button when the same Power Automate scenario is likely to appear in more than one app, flow, list, table, or environment and needs a repeatable implementation approach.

Does this pattern work with Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint?

Yes. This pattern is written for Power Apps, Power Automate, SharePoint scenarios, but you should still confirm connectors, licensing, permissions, delegation limits, and environment rules before using it in production.

What usually causes this Power Automate pattern to fail?

The most common failure points are unclear ownership, missing validation, weak exception handling, undocumented permissions, and testing only the happy path.

Is Power Automate Start an approval from a Power Apps button beginner friendly?

This pattern is rated Advanced. Beginners can use the fit guidance and checklist first, while experienced builders can move directly into the formula, flow, schema, or governance details.

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